Game Day "Avalanche"

Tonight, or should I say in the late afternoon (5pm Edmonton time) our beloved Edmonton Oilers take to the ice against the Avalanche of Colorado. Coming off a fresh victory on Friday afternoon against the Wild in which they "Reversed the Curse", this game will be a test of fortitude.

While this team is really starting to find it's offensive stride, it is also still learning how to handle the ups and downs of NHL hockey. Today's game will be a great game to see just how focused the Oilers can be after a great big win in Minnesota. It's easy to ride the big momentum but what happens if a few bad bounces go against you? Or what if the goaltender is struggling or some bad mental errors happen and a giveaway turns into a quick couple goals?  Maybe the Oilers can score a couple goals themselves to get back into the game but will they have enough to come back and stake a claim into a win?

All these questions and still not enough answers as of yet. On the other hand, the Oilers have started to show signs of growth and maturity. While they did try to force the puck a couple times against the Wild, they for the most part, took what was given and tried to make the most of each opportunity. That patience paid off and then the Wild had to open the game up more and the Oilers had them playing into their own game. Speaking of patience, are you not amazed at how well Jordon Eberle is playing as I am? Yes, I knew he was good, but this point pace he is on, is unreal compared to what he showed last season. While Jordon is not a player who can take over a game on his own, he definitely is one of the best complimentary players in the league.

Not only will the Oilers have to be careful not to be over confident but they are facing a team who did dominate the ice last time in Colorado and if not for the Oilers goaltender, it would have been a loss. Also, the Avalanche will be fighting hard for a win on home ice as that has really been their downfall this season to date.

Nice to have another game earlier in the day as opposed to the Saturday late night game they so often play. With our top two lines rolling, decent goaltending and a good developing core of defencemen, I see a strong chance of the Oilers coming back to Edmonton in a real good position.

"Go Oilers!"

My predictions for today's game in Colorado

Gametime 5:00pm CHED630am/CBC

REV'S Edmonton Oiler

Gameday Predictions Nov 26th/11

1.The PP has been a heaven sent sign of the change of tides in Edmonton. With so many offensive weapons in their arsenal, I expect another goal tonight to be scored on the PP

2. The Oilers have a prime chance to return back to Edmonton, sitting real pretty. Renney and his staff has really been doing a good job keeping these guys focused and working within a system. Another Oilers win tonight is looking good.

3. Well, it's HNIC and we all know the story of RNH and HNIC. He has excelled in those games and can't see why that can not continue tonight. RNH continues to put up points and tonight I suspect he will have a min of a 2 point night. (predictions getting even more courageous huh?)

4. Ryan Whitney was brought along nicely in second pairing minutes and will probably see a slight increase in mins if all goes well. Time to see Whitney hit min 18 minutes ice time tonight.

5. The Oilers FO was a atrocious 28.8% as a team  against the Wild and can't continue. Tonight there will be some changes to that and as a team will win the overall team FO%

(EV'S PREDICTIONS TO DATE: 49 for 90 = 54.4%)

wow! Went 5 for 5 on the predictions in that Wild game. Talk about reversing the curse. Hope to see those predictions above hold true for tonight as well. Next goal would be to see my predictions be at 60% or better.

As the great Ed Whalen used to say "In the meantime and in between time, that's it, for another edition of...REV'S PREDICTION" (bolded words are not Whalen's words)

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